Garment pack for luggage

ABSTRACT

A carrying pack for unitizing garments in luggage comprising a wrapper portion and an adjustable frame for adapting the pack for various suitcase sizes. The wrapper includes a central rectangular panel with four flaps which tie about the garments and a handle portion for lifting the pack.

United States Patent 11113,570,570

[72] Inventor Alfred R. Winner [56] References Cited 13 gswwdmere y a own, Pa. UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,005,967 6/1935 Berdan 206/62 [21] P 8265" 2,144,071 1/1939 206/62 [22] Med May 21,1969 45] Patented Mar 16 1971 68913 8/1939 ISO/52X 2,175,387 /1939 190/41UX 2,177,523 10/1939 190/35 2,861,681 11/1958 206/62 FOREIGN PATENTS 331,129 6/1930 Great Britain 150/52 Primary Examiner-Donald F. Norton 54 GARMENT PACK FOR LUGGAGE WW-Stanley Bllker 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S. Cl 150/52, ABSTRACT: A carrying pack for unitizing garments in lug- 190/35, 190/41, 190/51 gage comprising a wrapper portion and an adjustable frame [51] lnt. Cl Ac 5/12 for adapting the pack for various suitcase sizes. The wrapper Field of Search /52; includes a central rectangular panel with four flaps which tie 206/7 (M), 7 (H), 46 (apparel); /35, 41, 51

about the garments and a handle portion for lifting the pack.

Patented March 16, 1971 3,570,570

A TTORNEY GARMENT PACK FOR LUGGAGE This invention relates to an internal pack for unitizing articles and garments within luggage, and more particularly relates to a carrying case which is used to facilitate the packing of luggage and the unpacking thereof.

Every traveler recognized recognizes the problem of packing and unpacking of luggage during the stop stop-offs of a trip. Almost everyone has experienced the frustration of removing his garments and other articles from a suitcase, placing them in a bureau drawer at the hotel or motel, and then repacking the luggage for the phase of the trip. Not only are the items of wearing apparel strewn about within the suitcase or the drawer, but also the attempt to place the articles back into generally the same place is defeated by the used and/or soiled articles which are desirably keptisolated but cannot be appropriately folded. Still another problem arises when two or more travelers utilize and try to live out of the same bag. The

searching endeavors of customs ofiicials who poke about and extract items from sometimes neatly packed luggage is well known hazard occurring during return from out of the country trips.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an internal carrying pack for unitizing articles and garments within suitcases and other luggage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a unitizing carrying pack for luggage which enables wearing apparel to be transferred to and from the luggage and bureau drawers without rumpling the clothing.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide an adjustable unitizing carrying pack for luggage which is adapted for various sizes of suitcases.

Still another object of this invention is 'to provide a unitizing carrying pack which will separate clean and folded articles from soiled and used articles.

Yet still another object of this invention is to provide a unitizing carrying pack for luggage to permit the transfer of wearing apparel to and from the luggage and bureau drawers with minimal effort without expenditure of appreciable time.

Other objects of this invention are to provide an improved device of the character described that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction and both highly efficient and effective in operation.

With the above and related objects in view this invention consists of the details of construction andcombination of parts as will be more fully understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an internal garment carrying case for luggage, the case being shown in flat configuration;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the garment carrying case in folded disposition for insertion into a small piece of luggage;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the adjustable carrying case in expanded folded disposition for insertion into a larger piece of luggage; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the telescoping frame embodied in this invention. 3

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, I show an internal flexible case or packet for carrying articles and garments within luggage in order to facilitate the packing and unpacking thereof. The case of my invention comprises a flexible envelope or wrapper portion generally designated as A, and an I adjustable frame, generally a designated as B, for selectively defining a rigid marginal periphery for the wrapper in respect to any given size of luggage.

The envelope or wrapper A is preferably made of a heavy fabric, such as canvas, although any flexible sheetlike material, including plastic and leather is perfectly satisfactory. The wrapper A includes a central generally rectangular panel 12 having four flaps id, 16, 18 and 20 coextensive with and outwardly extending from the respective sides thereof. Flaps l4 and 16 are each hemmed at their exterior margins to provide reinforcement and inhibit tearing. A grommet or eyelet- 22 is secured within the central portion of the margin of flap 14,

and a similar eyelet 24 is secured within the margin of flap 16. Tie or drawstrings 26 and 28 are looped through the respective eyelets 22 and 24 and are adapted to be tied together when the flaps 14 and 16 are inwardly folded over garments laid in the central panel 12. Strips 30 and 32 of wood or of stiff material, such as metal are sewn within the margins of flaps 18 and 20. These strips 30 and 32 define handles which may be grasped together through cutouts 34 and 36 in the flaps l8 and 20 when the latter are folded interiorly over the panels 14 and 16. Rings 38 and 40 are strapped to the respective handle portions 30 and 32 and receive drawstrings 42 and 44 which secure the flaps 18 and 20 together when tide.

The frame 8 comprises a rectangularly adjustable member having four L-shaped preferably flat tubes 52, 54, 56 and 58 which telescopingly engage one another. One leg of L-shaped bracket 54 passes through and under a slit loop section 60 of the wrapper A intermediate panel 12 and flap 16 while one leg. of L-shaped bracket 58 passes through a slit loop section 62 intermediate panel 12 and flap 20. Thus, the four-piece frame B is not permanently attached to the wrapper A but merely slidably coupled thereto to permit freedom for expansion of the frame therein. A small set screw 64 is used to tighten two adjacent L-sahped brackets together as shown in FIG. 4. In this manner, the frame B is adjustable 'to accommodate to the length and width of a particular size of luggage.

In FIG. 2, the frame B has been adjusted so that the wrapper A of the case fits within a small piece of luggage, for example a 12 X 18 attache case C or overnighter. ln FIG. 3, the frame B has been expanded so that the wrapper A fits snugly within an 18 X 26 suitcase C1.

The wrapper A and frame B are first placed within the bottom of a piece of luggage after the frame- B has been appropriately adjusted for the size of luggage with which it is to be used. All four flaps l4, l6, l8 and 20 are turned outwardly. The wrapper A is then packed with the desired articles of wearing apparel 68. The end flaps 14 and 16 are then pulled toward each and tied by means of drawstrings 26 and 28. Side flaps 18 and 20 are then pulled toward each other by drawstrings 42 and 44 and tied. All of the contents of the piece of luggage are now enclosed as a unit within the and can be removed as a unit by grasping the handles 30 and 32 and lifting the case from the luggage;

Since the articles of apparel are completely unitized within the wrapper A, minimum. time and labor are required in unpacking the bag. The garments and the wrapper A may be placed in a drawer or suitable location in flat opened disposition. Also, the minimum time is required to repack the luggage since the clean articles may be lifted as unit from the drawer and placed within the luggage piece again. Used or soiled articles may be placed at the bottom of the satchel and the wrapper A with the fresh articles laid on top. Unused and soiled articles are kept separated from each other during the entire trip.

If a bag has not been completely filled with articles for a trip, the carrying case of the instant invention keeps them flat and prevents bunching regardless of luggage placement. Two carrying cases of the instant invention may be used to separate and pack articles of clothing for two persons sharing the same bag. In addition, the wrapper A provides a means for convenient customs inspection during out of country trips without subjecting clothing to being strewn about. Furthermore, individual pieces of wearing apparel can be prevented from trailing out of cracks between luggage sections thereby avoiding embarrassment.

lclaim:

1. A carrying pack for unitizing anicles and garments within luggage comprising-a flexible wrapper portion and a frame coupled thereto, said wrapper portion including a central, generally rectangular plane and four flaps coextensive with and outwardly extending from the sides thereof, said frame being of generally rectangular configuration and including means. to adjust the lateral and longitudinal dimensions for conversion to a size complementary with the interior of the luggage, and means to tie opposing flaps together about said frame and articles contained therein.

2. The carrying pack of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises four L-shaped elements in telescoping disposition with each other along corresponding axes whereby the pack may be adapted for various-sized pieces of luggage.

3. The carrying pack of claim 2 wherein a pair of the opposing flaps have handles for carrying the wrapper.

4. The carrying pack of claim 3 wherein the L-shaped elements are generally tubular in cross section.

5. The carrying case of claim 3 including means to affix adposing flaps are hemmed.

9. The carrying case of claim 8 wherein one pair of opposing l flaps have stiffening elements sewn in the margins. 

1. A carrying pack for unitizing articles and garments within luggage comprising a flexible wrapper portion and a frame coupled thereto, said wrapper portion including a central, generally rectangular plane and four flaps coextensive with and outwardly extending from the sides thereof, said frame being of generally rectangular configuration and including means to adjust the lateral and longitudinal dimensions for conversion to a size complementary with the interior of the luggage, and means to tie opposing flaps together about said frame and articles contained therein.
 2. The carrying pack of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises four L-shaped elements in telescoping disposition with each other along corresponding axes whereby the pack may be adapted for various-sized pieces of luggage.
 3. The carrying pack of claim 2 wherein a pair of the opposing flaps have handles for carrying the wrapper.
 4. The carrying pack of claim 3 wherein the L-shaped elements are generally tubular in cross section.
 5. The carrying case of claim 3 including means to affix adjacent L-shaped elements in fixed disposition with each other.
 6. The carrying case of claim 5 wherein said means to affix comprise setscrews.
 7. The carrying case of claim 2 wherein the wrapper is fabric.
 8. The carrying case of claim 7 wherein the margins of opposing flaps are hemmed.
 9. The carrying case of claim 8 wherein one pair of opposing flaps have stiffening elements sewn in the margins. 